Heated underwater diving suit



June 17, 1969 w, L N 3,449,761

HEATED UNDERWATER DIVING SUIT Filed April 17, 1967 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR.

RICHARD w. LONG R. W. LONG June 17, 19fi9 HEATED UNDERWATER DIVING SUITSheet Filed April 17, 1967 v 9 u m9 C23 123a QZCZQI Nm vm INVENTOR.RICHARD W. LONG United States Patent O 3,449,761 HEATED UNDERWATERDIVING SUIT Richard W. Long, 760 Wakefield Court, El Cajon, Calif. 92020Filed Apr. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 631,243 Int. Cl. B63c 11/04, 11 /28 US.Cl. 2-2.1 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates toa heated underwater diving suit for receiving temperature controlledfluid under pressure which fluid is distributed through a plurality ofconduits covering the diving suit. The conduits and suit have aplurality of matching holes through which the liquid passes supplying auniform distribution of temperature controlled fluid to the cavity ofthe diving suit and out the neck, wrist and ankle openings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that the length of time adiver can work in cold water in known diving suits is limited. The coldwater acts as an infinite heat sink that quickly draws the body heatfrom the diver. While diving suits have been developed to keep the diverwarm when operating at depths in cold water, these known diving suitshave been uniformly unsuccessful in accomplishing this purpose for thedesired periods of time. The known heated diving suits have taken manyforms, such as the electrically heated diving suit, which suit requiresexpensive and bulky support equipment and also can be dangerous to thediver. Another approach has been to pump hot water under pressure to thediving suit. However, these known hot water supplied diving suits onlyprovide water exhaust points at the hands and feet of the diver andeject the water at such high temperatures near the wrist and ankles ofthe divers that the divers are often scalded by the hot water. Theseknown hot water diving suits only deliver water to the divers hands andfeet and do not provide overall uniform heat to the diver. Thus it isdesirable to have a diving suit utilizing temperature controlled fluidto control the temperature of the environment of the diver under waterand that provides a uniform distribution of the temperature controlledfluid over the divers entire body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The diving suit of this invention covers thetorso of the diver including his arms and legs. The suit may be of anyconstruction known in the art, such as suits made of neoprene that isnylon lined. The diving suit is supplied with a temperature controlledfluid, usually water, under pressure through a tube that is connected toa heater and pump unit on the surface of the body of water. The supplytube is connected to a manifold that is secured to the diving suit nearthe hip of the diver. The manifold in turn supplies water to a pluralityof conduits that are secured to the outer surface of the suit and coverthe suit in a manner that distributes the Water thereto in asubstantially uniform distribution. The conduits have a plurality ofspaced holes along their lengths that communicate with aligned aperturesthrough the wall of the suit to inject water into the cavity of thesuit. These lines run along the legs and arms of the suit and also upthe front and back of the suit. The conduits terminate in open endedtubes at the wrists for providing the tempe ture controlled fluid to thegloves worn by the diver to heat his hands. The conduits along the legsterminate in open ended tubes that provide heated water to the boots ofthe diver for heating his feet.

The manifold has a pair of fluid control valves for controlling the flowof fluid in a conduit leading up the front and back of the diving suit.Also there is provided a second fluid control valve that controls theflow of fluid to the manifold in a manner that the diver may eitherdirect the fluid into the surrounding water or direct the fluid into themanifold or direct a division of the fluid to either place. So there isa constant outlet for the fluid supplied by the pump. The diver is thusable, by means of the two control units, to control the fluid suppliedto the manifold and throughout the conduits, and to individually controlthe fluid to the conduits extending up the front and back of the suit.

The individual diameters of each of the spaced holes in the conduits areincreased in size along the length of -the conduit in a direction awayfrom the manifold. Thus the amount of fluid ejected into the suit fromeach of the conduits is thus maintained uniform, notwithstanding linepressure drops along the length of the conduits. This provides a moreuniform distribution of fluid at the desired temperature throughout thecavity of the suit. Since the fluid leaving the conduits generallypasses out through the suits openings in the legs, arms and around theneck, the fluid leaving the holes in the conduits near the manifoldjoins the fluid leaving holes farther from the manifold, and theincreased volume of the fluid along the length of the conduit ismaintained at a substantially uniform temperature distribution.

Accordingly, applicants invention provides a diving suit havingsubstantially uniform temperature control of the fluid distributed toall parts of the body of the diver. This allows use of lower temperaturefluid that may be selectively varied in temperature to co-act withchanges in body heat of the diver.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved heated underwater diving suit.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedheated underwater diving suit in which temperature controlled fluidunder pressure is substantially uniformly distributed throughout theinner cavity of the suit.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedheated underwater diving suit that can effectively use a lowertemperature fluid.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedheated underwater diving suit that does not burn or injure the diver.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparentupon reading the following detailed description and upon an inspectionof the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like partsthroughout and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front upright view of an embodiment of the diving suit ofmy invention.

FIGURE 2 is a back upright view of an embodiment of the diving suit ofmy invention.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view illustrating the control unit for supplyingtemperature controlled fluid under pressure to the manifold on thediving suit.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the ball valve used in the control unit.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a broken away view of the inside surface of a part of oneleg of the diving suit.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the ball valve in the housing with partsbroken away.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated an embodiment of thediving suit of this invention that may have a known wall constructionsuch as for example, onefourth inch thick nylon lined neoprene. Thenylon is on the outer surface and comprises a known nylon fabric. Thesuit is not water or fluid impervious. The suit is opened on its frontside by a zipper 28 and zippers 26 on each leg allow the legs of thesuit to be open for insertion of the feet of the diver. The leg ends ofthe suit 50 are open as are the wrist portions of the suit 40. Thusfluid inside the suit may pass out through the openings around the feetand hands and also out the neck opening 42.

The diver normally wears the suit under the water with a face mask, headgear or the like to which breathing gas is provided. A hose 90 carriestemperature controlled fluid from the surface of the body of water tothe suit. The temperature controlled fluid is supplied by pump 94 andheating unit 92. A fluid supply provides fluid through line 96 to a pump94. The pump adds sufficient pressure to the fluid to provide thedesired pressure to the suit at its location underneath the body ofwater. The heating unit 92 heats the fluid to the desired temperature.Hose 90 extends from the surface of the water to the diving suit and isconnected to a second flow control means 82. While the flow controlvalve 82 may have any known construction, the valve shown in thespecific embodiment is a ball type valve having a control lever 86 and aside outlet port 88. Ball valve housing 100 fits into the housing ofvalve 82 and has openings 102, 103 and 105. A ball valve memher 104 hasa passage 107 there-through that is cut out at one side 109 having areduced in size section 111. In operation the fluid can flow throughpassage 107 and through apertures 102 and 103 with a part of the fluidpassing through opening 109 and out aligned openings 105 and 88. Whenmember 104 is rotated by lever 86, then section 111 can close opening105 and outlet port 88 providing full fluid flow through the valve 82. Aplurality of intermediate positions of the lever 88 allows water to flowjointly from conduit 90 to conduit 72 and out through the side aperture88 in selectively controlled amounts. In a third position, the waterthen passes from conduit 90 out opening 88. Thus the flow control means82 is able to direct the fluid as desired without interruptingpressurized fluid flow from the pump 94. Conduit 72 is connected bynormal clamping means 74 and 78 to the flow control means 82 and to themanifold 12 through a connection 70. Manifold 12 is a hollow manifoldmember having a closed end 76 and a plurality of outlet units 106, 108,110, 112, 114 and 116. The individual conduits on the diving suit areindividually connected to the outlet units as follows. Conduit 14 isconnected to the outlet unit 106, conduit 18 is connected to the outletunit 108, conduit 20 is connected to the outlet unit 110, conduit 22 isconnected to the outlet unit 112, conduit 16 is connected to the outletunit 114, and conduit 24 is connected to the outlet unit 116. Themanifold 12 and all the outlet units 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 and 116 aresecured to the suit 10 just above the groin area of the diver and to theright of center to keep the entire manifold 12 out of the divers way. Aflap of neoprene nylon lined, is cemented over the entire unit securingit to the suit and insulating the fluid therein from the outer ambientwater. A similar neoprene covering 84 covers the control valve 82.

As may be seen in FIGURE 1, the plurality of lines as previouslydescribed, are connected to the suit and are distributed over the areaof the suit to provide an equal distribution of fluid within the cavityof the suit 10 in a manner to be described hereinafter. Referring toFIG- URE 5, each conduit comprises an inner rubber lining 58, having awoven braid layer 56 and an outer rubber layer 54. One side of theconduit member 16 is shaved off giving a flat surface 57 that is gluedor sealed to the outer surface of the suit 10. An overlay of neoprene,nylon fabric lined, is layed over the top of the conduits with the edgessealed holding the conduits in their sealed position on the outersurface of the suit 10. The conduit 16 has an aperture 4 62 therein thatcommunicates with an opening 64 through the wall of the diving suit 10through which the fluid or water passes from the conduit to the cavityof the suit. Holes 62 and 64 are spaced throughout the length of each ofthe tubes 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24. As is better illustrated in FIGURE6, the inner surface of the suit 10 has a plurality of apertures 66along the length thereof corresponding with spaced openings in theconduit, as for example conduit 16, with the openings 66 havingincreasing diameters along its length away from the manifold 12. At thebottom of the leg of the suit 10, the conduit 16 projects through anopening and is connected by a nylon connector 68 to a flexible rubbertube 34 that projects into the boot (not shown) worn by the diver. Thusit may be seen that conduit 16 provides a distribution of fluid alongthe length of the leg cavity with the remaining fluid passing outthrough the opening of tube 34 in the boot worn by the diver. In thesame manner, temperature controlled fluid is distributed in lines 20 and24 to the torso portion of the suit 10 and through lines 18 and 22 alongthe arm portion of the suit with tubes 36 and 38 supplying the fluid tothe gloves (not shown) worn by the diver.

The fluid passing out through the holes in the various conduits, expandsthe suit 10 and sheaths the diver with a film of fluid between the suitand the diver. This fluid passes out through the suit openings at theangles, wrists and neck of the diver. With the diameter of the conduitholes being smaller near the manifold 12, it may be seen thatsubstantially equal fluid volume is released to the suit at all pointsalong the length of the conduit even though there are line pressurelosses. Since the fluid normally forced out the holes adjacent, forexample, the thigh of the diver will eventually pass out the opening 50and in movement in that direction combines with the fluid that is alsoforced out the larger diameter holes closer to the divers angle, it maybe seen that a relatively uniform temperature distribution of the fluidis provided along the entire leg. The same applies to the fluid passingout through the neck opening 42 and out the wrist openings 40.

Petcocks 120 in line 20 and 122 in line 24 permit the diver to controlthe flow of the temperature control fluid through these lines and thusadjust the temperature of the water or fluid adjacent the body of thediver within the diving suit 10. The second flow control means 82 isnormally connected within a foot of the diver for his close control.

In operation the fluid is heated on the surface of the body of water byheating unit 92 and is pumped through the system from a fluid source bypump 94 so that the fluid reaching the diver has a pressure of about 10pounds per square inch. While the temperature of the fluid depends uponthe depth of the diver, the temperature of the water in which he isdiving, and the breathing gas used, it is generally desirable to havethe temperature of the fluid around the diver at about degrees, althoughin some circumstances the temperature can go up to degrees Fahrenheit.Accordingly, the heating unit 92 heats the fluid so that it reaches thediver at about this temperature. It should be recognized that when thediver is working in a hot environment, such as in hot water, then theheating unit would be a cooling unit and cool fluid would be supplied tothe suit 10. The second fluid control means 82 is controlled by thediver operating lever 86 by which the diver can by-pass all or a part ofthe fluid, or deliver all or part of the incoming fluid to his suit 10.The fluid reaching the manifold 12 is distributed through the variousconduits and through the plurality of holes to the suit and to thegloves through tubes 36 and 38 and to the boots through tubes 32 and 34.The diver by adjusting the fluid flow to his suit through the lever 86,controls the temperature of the fluid around him in his suit. Petcocksand 122 provide added control. The suit is loose fitting on the diverand balloons out when receiving fluid so that the only points of contactwith the diver are at the neck, wrists, and ankles.

It may be seen that the suit keeps the diver warm in cold water or coolin hot water by providing temperature control fluid to the diver. Thuseven though the water surrounding the diver is an infinite heat sink,the diver is bathed in a sheath of fluid that insulates him from thesurrounding water. An increased temperature of fluid covering the bodysurface is possible through my invention because the fluid isdistributed to all parts of the body at substantially the sametemperature. Thus a lower temperature fluid can be used that does notburn or injure the diver. The conduits run on the outside of the divingsuit and are not inside the suit where they could interfer with thediver in his work.

It is also contemplated that plugs or the like may be inserted in theends of all the conduits creating back pressure that will force morefluid out the plurality of holes in the conduits and thus increase thefluid within the suit. In these situations the normal flow of fluid outthe wrist openings 40 and the leg openings 50 and the opening around theneck 42 will be sufficient to keep the neck, hands and feet bathed intemperature controlled fluid and thus keep these extremities of the bodyat the desired temperatures.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred form of myinvention I contemplate that various changes and modifications can bemade without departing from the invention, the scope of which isindicated by the following claims:

Having described my invention I now claim: 1. An underwater diving suitfor receiving temperature controlled fluid under pressure through a tubecomprisa diving suit for covering the torso, arms and legs of a diver,

conduit means for receiving said fluid and substantially uniformlydistributing said fluid throughout the inner cavity of said diving suitand to the hands, feet and neck of the diver,

said conduit means comprises a plurality of conduits distributed oversaid diving suit and fixed to said diving suit,

said conduits having a plurality of holes at spaced intervals along thelength thereof,

said diving suit having a plurality of holes therethrough aligned withsaid holes in said conduits for passing fluid from said conduits to theinner cavity of said diving suit,

certain of said conduits terminating with an open ended tube that iscapable of projecting fluid to the hands and feet of the diver,

a manifold for being attached to a tube from the pump to receive saidfluid,

said conduits being connected to said manifold for receiving said fluid,

and said holes along the length of said conduits in a direction awayfrom said manifold connection having increasing diameters.

2. An underwater diving suit as claimed in claim 1 in which,

said conduits comprise individual lines extending from said manifolddown each leg and along each arm, and up the front and back of saiddiving suit.

3. An underwater diving suit as claimed in claim 2 in which,

said individual lines extending up the front and back of said divingsuit have first valve control means operable by the diver forcontrolling the fluid flow in said lines.

4. An underwater diving suit as claimed in claim 3 in which,

said manifold and said first valve control means are mounted on thefront side of said diving suit just above the groin location of saiddiver and to one side.

5. An underwater diving suit that is capable of disaround a wearercomprising,

a diving suit for covering the torso, arms and legs of a diver,

said suit has a plurality of conduits distributed over the outer surfaceof the walls of said suit and along the arms and legs sections and aresecured thereto,

said conduits have a circular outer wall surface with a tangent sectionof the outer wall surface removed providing a fiat surface that abutsagainst the outer surface of the walls of said suit,

said conduits having a plurality of holes spaced along at least thelength thereof adjacent the lower arms and legs and through said flatsurface,

and said diving suit has a plurality of holes therethrough aligned withsaid holes in said conduits for passing fluid from said conduits to theinner cavity of said diving suit.

6. An underwater diving suit as claimed in claim 5 including,

a tube for carrying fluid in a given volume to said conduits from a pumpunit,

a valve positioned in said tube at a point adjacent said suit and havingopenings for passing fluid to said conduits and to the volume outsidesaid suit,

and said valve has means controlled by the wearer for selectivelyvarying the fluid passing to said conduits and to said outside volumewithout decreasing the given volume fluid provided by the pump unit.

7. An underwater diving suit as claimed in claim 6 including,

a manifold interconnecting said tube with each of said conduits,

and ones of said conduits have second valve means operable 'by thewearer for selectively controlling fluid flow through said ones of saidconduits.

8'. An underwater diving suit as claimed in claim 5 including,

a manifold for receiving fluid under pressure,

one end of each of said conduits are connecting to said manifold,

and said holes along the length of each of said conduits in a directionaway from said manifold connection have increasing diameters.

9. An underwater diving suit as claimed in claim 5 in which,

said leg and arm sections of said diving suit terminate at the feet andhands of the wearer,

and said conduits extend beyond said termination for a suflicient lengthto project into gloves and boots worn by the wearer at points adjacentthe fingers and toes.

10. An underwater diving suit that is capable of distributingtemperature controlled fluid under pressure around a wearer comprising,

a diving suit for covering the torso', arms and legs of a diver,

said suit has a plurality of conduits distributed thereover and aresecured thereto,

means for opening said conduits at spaced intervals along the lengththereof to the internal volume o the suit,

a tube for carrying fluid in a given volume to said conduits from a pumpunit,

a valve positioned in said tube at a point adjacent said suit that hasopenings that pass fluid to said conduits and to the volume outside thesuit,

said valve has means controlled by the wearer for selectively varyingthe fluid passing to said conduits and to said outside volume withoutdecreasing the given fluid volume provided by the pump unit,

a manifold interconnecting said tube with each of said conduits,

and ones of said conduits have second valve means operable by the wearerfor selectively controlling fluid flow through said ones of saidconduits.

11. An underwater diving suit that is capable of distributingtemperature controlled fluid under pressure around a wearer comprising,

a diving suit for covering the torso, arms and legs of a diver,

said suit has a plurality of conduits distributed thereover and aresecured thereto,

a manifold for being attached to a tube from the pump to receive thefluid,

said conduits are connected to said manifold for receiving said fluid,

means for opening said conduits at spaced intervals along the lengthsthereof to the internal volume of the suit,

said opening means including a plurality of holes at spaced intervalsalong a length of said conduits,

and said holes along a length of said conduits in a direction away fromsaid manifold connection having increasing diameters.

12. An underwater diving suit as claimed in claim 11 in which,

said leg and arm sections of said diving suit terminate at the feet andhands of the wearer,

8 and said conduits extend beyond said termination for a sufficientlength to project into gloves and boots worn by the wearer at pointsadjacent the fingers and toes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,391,405 7/1968 Wiswell 22.12,512,990 6/1950 Akerman 2-81 2,540,547 2/ 1951 Rodert 2-81 X 2,573,41410/1951 Dunn 281 X 2,657,396 11/1953 Klein et al 28l X 2,773,262 12/1956 Brouha et a1. 28l 2,966,684 1/1961 Bonin 281 2,981,954 5/1961Garbellano 2-82 X 3,348,236 10/ 1967 Copeland 22 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,1738/ 1936 France.

RICHARD J. SCANLAN, JR., Primary Examiner.

